Global Data Architect

We are seeking an experienced and innovative Data Architect to play a pivotal role in shaping and optimising the data architecture within our global organisation. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing secure, scalable, and efficient data systems that enable seamless data flow and accessibility, aligning with the organisation’s strategic goals. This role involves creating and maintaining a robust data architecture that supports our Data Strategy and enforces data governance policies, ensuring the organisation’s data assets are well-managed, secure, and ready to drive business value.

You will collaborate closely with stakeholders across the organisation to design cutting-edge solutions that address complex data challenges, enabling innovation while ensuring compliance and operational efficiency. This is an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of transforming our organisation into a truly data-driven enterprise.

Join us as we continue our journey to unlock the full potential of our data and shape the future of our business.

Your responsibilities

• Develop and Maintain Data Architecture Strategy: Design and maintain a comprehensive data architecture strategy for the organisation, ensuring it aligns with business objectives and supports data governance requirements to enable seamless operational and analytical data flow.
• Oversee Data Integration: Ensure data consistency, accessibility, and quality by overseeing the integration of data across multiple sources, collaborating closely with the Data Engineering Lead to build and maintain data pipelines, so that data transformation and processing are smooth and reliable.
• Ensure Data Security and Compliance: Establish and maintain strict data security standards and compliance with relevant regulations by implementing protective measures such as encryption, access controls, and data masking, safeguarding sensitive information across the architecture.
• Collaborate with Key Stakeholders: Work with stakeholders, including the Data Governance Lead, Data Engineering Lead, BI Lead, and business units, to ensure the data architecture aligns with departmental needs, promoting cohesive strategies and solutions for data-related projects.
• Evaluate and Recommend Technologies: Continuously evaluate emerging technologies and provide expert recommendations on their adoption to enhance IPF’s data architecture, ensuring new tools are strategically integrated and support organisational growth.
• Define and Enforce Data Quality Standards: Collaborate with the Data Governance Lead to establish and enforce data quality standards within the architecture, ensuring data accuracy, consistency, and reliability to support data-driven decision-making across the business.
• Create and Maintain Documentation: Produce and update comprehensive documentation, including data models, schemas, and data flow diagrams, to support consistency and promote best practices in data management and architecture across IPF.

Provide Strategic Support to the Global Head of Data: Ensure the data architecture is designed to meet both current and future needs by enabling data-driven decision-making through well-organised, accessible, and high-quality data that aligns with the overarching data strategy.

Our requirements

• Extensive Expertise in Data Architecture: We’re looking for a professional with significant experience in designing, implementing, and optimising data architectures within large, complex organisations. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of database systems, data modelling, and ETL processes, along with expertise in cloud-based data solutions, particularly Snowflake. This experience should showcase a proven ability to build scalable, secure, and efficient data infrastructures that align with business needs.
• Understanding of Medallion Architecture: A strong understanding of Medallion Architecture principles is essential for this role. The candidate should be experienced in designing data pipelines that support bronze, silver, and gold layers, ensuring efficient data flow and processing at every stage. Their expertise should include implementing best practices for data quality, lineage, and accessibility to enable robust analytics and reporting capabilities.
• Strategic Alignment and Governance Support: The successful candidate will excel in aligning data architecture with broader organisational objectives, ensuring compliance with data governance frameworks and supporting long-term business goals. Their experience should include collaborating with governance, engineering, and BI teams to design architectures that enable secure and compliant data usage, while maximising accessibility and performance.
• Strong Problem-Solving and Innovation Skills: A track record of resolving complex data challenges is essential. The candidate should be adept at designing innovative and sustainable solutions that address both immediate and future needs. Their expertise will extend to identifying optimisation opportunities within existing data systems and implementing transformative strategies to enhance organisational capabilities.
• Excellent Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills are critical for this role. The candidate must be able to act as a bridge between technical teams and business stakeholders, ensuring a shared understanding of data-related initiatives. They should have experience in presenting technical concepts to non-technical audiences and influencing decision-making at all organisational levels.

Desirable Qualifications and Certifications: A bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field is preferred, along with certifications in data architecture, cloud platforms, or relevant technologies (e.g., Snowflake, AWS, Azure). Experience in managing data architecture within a global or multi-market organisation is highly desirable, demonstrating the ability to adapt strategies to diverse regulatory and operational landscapes.

What we offer

• Meaningful Work- Contribute to shaping a sustainable future and making a real difference.
• Professional Growth-Join a dynamic team dedicated to continuous learning and development, with opportunities to lead and innovate.
• Inclusive Culture- Be part of a diverse and inclusive work environment that values and respects every team member.